BDBO made the top 25 political blogs last week – the traffic numbers may be because of a post on a Canadian evangelist and methodology varies for different counts. Good variety of blogs, thanks for the mention jago.
BDBO also got named in a US newsletter of a controversial dominionist/fundamentalist family whose controversial child-rearing techniques, along with tulipgirl and boycottcity.org, which is now shut down. I wrote about the Michael and Debbie Pearl child rearing methods two years ago, and this blog was one of a couple mentioned in their newsletter (which is filled with their product) as:
“ONLY a FEW emotionally immature and intellectually depraved critics writing a few lines a week can change your children’s future. YOU must act to secure your child’s future.”
Oh.
The Pearls are expanding their business internationally and are calling for their supporters to petition Amazon and Barnes and Noble who wisely have refused to sell their books.
Update: Read this, written by a mom who read the Pearls books and found out how damaging their techniques were to her family.
Canada’s largest mosque officially opened Saturday in Calgary. It is a branch of Ahmadiyya Islam, considered by Moslems to be a sect
Why Ahmadiyya is considered a sect – Apologetics Index
Dallas Morning News Religion blog says this was the statement made by Billy Graham on the death of former US senator Jessie Helms:
“Jesse Helms, my friend and long-time senator from my home state of North Carolina, was a man of consistent conviction to conservative ideals and courage to faithfully serve God and country based on principle, not popularity or politics.
In the tradition of Presidents Jefferson, Adams and Monroe — who also passed on July 4th — it is fitting that such a patriot who fought for free markets and free people would die on Independence Day. As we celebrate the birth of our nation, I thank God for the blessings we enjoy, which Senator Helms worked so hard to preserve.
Over three decades in the United States Congress, Senator Helms was a loyal and effective leader on behalf of our State, with whom I connected during times of national crisis. He was the first person to call me when President Reagan was shot, even before it was reported as news.
Senator Helm’s wife, Dot; their three children; and seven grandchildren are in my thoughts and prayers as they honor his legendary life and extraordinary legacy.”
Reaction has been mixed, ranging from belief to skepticism to anger and dismissal.
I’m in the skeptical section, while Billy Graham does not speak ill of the dead – he is 89, in very poor health and has not been involved in his organization for some time. This could have come from the BGEA PR department. Since the death of his wife Ruth died at age 87 in 2007 he has been confined to his home.
His organization (run by son Franklin) and headquartered in Charlotte North Carolina seems more likely to have released the Helms statement.
There is a picture of Graham, his son and John McCain meeting at the Graham home recently, there is no real indication Graham actively involved in conversation, he may have sat for a campaign publicity shot.
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I know that they all belong to the Southern Baptist denomination, which I believe was founded on the right to own slaves, but I have been shocked by the recent remarks of Billy Graham, Franklin Graham and Anne Graham Lotz on Jesse Helms death , praising him as a patriot, Christian and Southern gentleman without any reservations or reference to his darker side. Jesse Helms was probably very nice to his own kind but he was very unchristian in his attitude to Afro-Americans and brought disrepute to the name of Christianity and of the United States by his support of repressive regimes in South Africa and South America.
According to one report I have read Jesse Helms was also a Freemason, which in the UK at least is regarded by most Evangelicals, RCs and Eastern Orthodox as incompatible with true Christianity and in Europe has a history of being anti- semitic, anti-Roman Catholic and very racist.
This is an obituary of Jesse Helms from one of our reputable UK newspapers.
Jesse Helms (1921-2008)
Senator Jesse Helms, member of the US Senate’s foreign relations committee for two decades and its chairman from 1995 to 2001, has died at the age of 86. To echo this newspaper’s memorable comment on the death of William Randolph Hearst, it is hard even now to think of him with charity. From his earliest years, Helms’s attitudes recalled those of an earlier southern bigot, Theodore Bilbo of Mississippi, who so outraged his Senate colleagues, that they eventually refused even to let him take his seat.
There was never a comparable risk for Helms, who maintained an old-world courtesy in his personal contacts. But that was only on the surface. He became one of the most powerful and baleful influences on American foreign policy, repeatedly preventing his country paying its UN contributions, voting against virtually all arms control measures, opposing international aid programmes as “pouring money down foreign rat holes”, and avidly supporting military juntas in Latin America and minority white regimes in Southern Africa.
In domestic politics he denounced the 1964 Civil Rights Act as “the single most dangerous piece of legislation ever introduced in the Congress”, voted against a supreme court justice because she was “likely to uphold the homosexual agenda”, acted for years as spokesman for the large tobacco companies, was reprimanded by the justice department and the federal election commission for electoral malpractice, and compiled a dismal personal record as a slum landlord.
There is much detail about his rise to power and his retrograde obstructionist record in the Senate that can be read in the original obituary. However the concluding paragraph about his retirement is worth including here:
The New York Times observed: “Few senators in the modern era have done more to resist the tide of progress,” and Robert Pastor, whose ambassadorship to Panama was scuppered by Helms in 1995, commented that, “nothing Jesse Helms did in his entire career will enhance America’s national security more than his retirement.”
Posted by: Annie (UK) | July 7, 2008 3:15 PM
I just received my copy of NGJ in the mail today and wanted to visit all the websites listed by the Pearl’s.
Only, I came to say thank you. Thank you for speaking out against their parenting techniques. I have written about their methods on my blog also, and would encourage people not to follow anyone who advocates the child training methods of Michael and Debi Pearl. And anyone who does follow them, please learn about all that they teach, like staying with an abusive husband, or a husband who is sexually molesting the children.
I believe that the Pearl’s teachings are dangerous and support the blogs that speak out against them.
Anne you are welcome.
I think the Pearls might not realize people emailing on their behalf are thinking for themselves and many of the emails I’m receiving recognize putting some homespun advice in with abusive and dangerous training techniques is not healthy for parent, child, families or communities of faith.
Wow, I realize that we are all different and that we all hold different views. But if in fact, you call yourserlf “Christian” one would think that the utmost authority in your lives would be God and His Holy Word, right?
Have you not read for yourself the word of God and what saith the Lord on the matter of child rearing? God said it and that should settle it for any God fearing Christian.
So I am left to wonder and perhaps believe that like yourself the majority of your readers do not consider the Bible to be the final authority on life matters.
In my deffense (with God backing me) Prov. 23:14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
Prov.20:30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so [do] stripes the inward parts of the belly.
Prov.23:13 Withhold not correction from the child: for [if] thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
I could go on and on, as does the word of God; but I will not. I am not sure what it is exactly you base your “opinions” on, but clearly it is not on “what saith the Lord.”
Happily mothering God’s way.
Little Wings, by all means visit every site you can, I think that is being a wise and loving parent.
“But if in fact, you call yourserlf “Christian” one would think that the utmost authority in your lives would be God and His Holy Word, right?”
Agreed.
“Have you not read for yourself the word of God and what saith the Lord on the matter of child rearing?”
I have.
The bible does not condone child abuse, children hold a very special place in Jesus ministry. Mark 10:14
But I’m not going to get into a bible sword drill with you, as a mother who has read the bible and loves her children and who is doing the best she can, I’ve no doubt you are familar with Colossians 3:21.
Nor do I need to point out what the word discipline actually means in scripture.
You know the bible verses you used are connected to Proverbs 3: 11-12.
Nor would I need to mention the strong warning in Ephesians about being too aggressive and harming a child’s spirt.
I certainly don’t need to quote Jesus about harming a child emotionally or spiritually either.
The Pearls are not able or willing to show restraint, they advocate sadistic and crippling punishment and need to control, even over their fans. They run a business that hurts parents and children.
Their theology is devoid of understanding (including the verses you quoted) of the shepard and the rod.
Go to the Hebrew text and and put rod, staff, correction and discipline in context. Read up on what the bible says about verbal instruction from a shepard and a parent.
Go to Deuteronomy 6, where instruction is given to a parent on how to teach their child.
The Pearls aggressive reasoning is that children are born bad, corrupt, evil and this must be beaten out of them, and understanding of God’s word beat into them.
They advocate beating a child even more when the child responds with their God-given defense mechanism of flight from danger.
Since you are interested in reading treat yourself to:
Spare the Rod: Breaking the Cycle of Child Abuse -Phil Quinn
Abingdon Press
http://www.bestwebbuys.com/Self-Help-Abuse-N_10039789-books.html
Just got our no greater joy magazine, and wanted to stop by and let you know that My husband and I love the Pearls! They have been such a blessing to us and our family. We have such sweet fellowship with our children. We thank God for them and pray that they will continue to be faithful through this trial.
Thanks,
Jean
This is goofy..the things you have written about the Pearls. I am sorry I totally disagree. In the book, Created to be His Helpmate…it is very clear that you shouldn’t stay with an abusive husband. I have put to the test what is written in their book … I have a total different husband! We are happier than we have been in our 10 yrs of marriage. And it works because the foundation of these principles are found in the WORD OF GOD.
In their child-rearing books, the message that I received is that …yes, you control with the rod(as written in scripture) but your attitude and spirit during that time is LOVE and NOT harsh or cruel. If beating your child is the only message you got from the Pearls book…it is failure on your part to comprehend the message.
Angela:
Pelagianism and gnosticism isn’t goofy, it’s abberant.
That is what the Pearls teach.
Let’s continue to take our Christianity and orthodoxy seriously okay?
I wanted to add that I am a bible believing Christian.
That means that I refuse to buy into the heresy that Micheal and Debi Pearl teach, insisting that the “rod” will remove guilt and sin from a child. Only the blood of Jesus can do that, and anyone following the Pearls should be careful that they are truly following God’s word, and not the Pearl’s interpretation of it.
As to the Pearl’s and their teaching on abusers, Micheal states that a woman being beaten by her husband should only call the police if he hits her and leaves a mark lasting longer than two hours. In addition he says that a woman whose husband is sexually abusing the children should allow him to stay in the home so long as he repents. Even if he doesn’t repent (and believe me, child molesters repent and try to stay near their victims) he recommends taking the molester back into the house after he does jail time (of course that’s assuming he does any).
The Pearl’s material are not biblical, but is dangerous advice couched in biblical terms and bolstered with bible verses taken out of context and misapplied.
The rod for spanking is only discussed in Proverbs, which are bits of wisdom (like an apple a day keeps the doctor away) and are not meant to be taken literally, but to teach a truth. In this case the truth that is the need for discipline.
For evidence of Micheal Pearl’s comments regarding domestic abuse, see my blog post here in which I quote the Pearls and link to the article on their own website.
Again, thank you Bene, for letting me speak here and for sharing the important message that is the danger of the Pearl’s teachings. May God forgive what we do to our children in His name.
I’m another mother who was once a (very outspoken) Pearl parent. I have since completely repented from following their methods. I wish so badly that I could take those years back. I was well-intentioned, just as I believe the Pearls are well-intentioned, but well-intentioned words don’t make a person right.
I caution Pearl parents to carefully carefully consider what is being taught as “God’s way.” The Pearls may mean well, but only God is infallible.
Respectfully,
Molly
Mom of Five
Pelagianism and gnosticism isn’t goofy, it’s abberant.
That is what the Pearls teach.
It’s not just goofy- its heresy… something a lot of Pearl devotees I’ve come across seem either not to care about or just willingly accept. Its a tragedy really and it says a whole lot about the state of the Christian church in America.
Thank you Bene for responding to my comment. I am pondering that which you have written and a comment posted by one of your readers. Your reader states that the instruction in Prov. is not to be taken litteral? I don’t understand; the Bible clearly states:
All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Tim 3:16. Not some but all.
God also says: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. Psa. 58:3b
What does God really mean here?
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Psa. 51:5
What would be God’s purpose in including these verses in His word, were they not meant to be taken litteraly?
Foolishness [is] bound in the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. Prov 22:15
Prov. 23:14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
Prov.20:30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil
What Bene, in your “opinion” does God, really “mean” when he is refering to the blueness of a wound or “beating”?
Don’t get me wrong Bene, I do NOT beat my children. I grew up in a home where I was both physically and sexually abused by my birth father. I know what abuse and beatings look like firsthand.
If anyone, had a legitimate reason to run far from those verses it was me. But I have allowed the word of God to show me how in love I can apply His methods and receive joyful results.
God teaches us daily (if we are in the word) how to aviod stumbling and sin (do I falter? yes! without a doubt) but it is through His chastisement and correction that I learn (hopefully) not to repeat the same error. In turn, a few good doses of discipline administered in love to our children produce the same fruit, lesson learned.
As your kids get older, the need for the rod becomes less and less and then only gentle rebuke comes into play.
Do you have any kids? How have you dealt with lying, cheating, disobedience or as God calls it; foolishness?
I would like to know.
Because of Jesus,
Adee
Adee, it’s late here, your comment has hit me hard emotionally, I’d like to sleep on it. I commend you for your openess and honesty.
I will say this quickly, we probably differ on literal and infallible, but this is more important:
I am so so sorry, you did not deserve to be hurt.
You did not deserve to be hurt.
I take the Word of God very seriously…my eternal destination depends upon it! God is good…Praise His Holy Name
Angela, doesn’t the heresy they teach bother you at all?
Okay Little Wings here we go.
This will be long, thank you for helping me define what I believe.
There are three main ways Christians look at scripture.
a) The Bible is inerrant — free of error;
b) Its authors were inspired by God; and
c) The Bible is the word of God and reflects accurately the will of God.
Many religions believe their text is inerrant. I’m hearing you say you interpret the bible literally, without room for figurative, symbolic or metaphor understanding.
The Pearls are KJV only. Literalistic. Inerrant. Bibliolatry. KJV onlyism is a cult of Christianity.
I mentioned the Pearls were dominionists, (a religious/political belief system) their beliefs are laced with gnosticism and Plagiarism.
They toss around the terms like biblical, authoritative, meaning the Bible is supremely right, defines all we believe and everything we do, it is binding on all people, all cultures all history.
The Pearls interpret, judge, instruct, you obey. And you pay.
Since authors of the bible are God inspired, they can’t have written with human fallibility, God doesn’t change so all the bible applies to all cultures for all times.
Infallible (my belief) means the bible is trustworthy was the true source of faith and doctrine.
The Pearls believe corporal punishment of children is a core biblical belief and they use the Old Testament.
They tell you, the parent, can’t be faithful to Jesus if you don’t hit your children.
In the inerrancy the Pearls peddle, (based on dominionism) children are no different than strong willed animals and the behavioral modification techniques they sell are no different; (Michael cites mules as an example) their techniques use predictable responses to unpleasant stimuli.
I mentioned that in comment #5.
Break their will, make them compliant, the parent is conqueror.
(Because you love your child of course)
Children are to be prepared in the dominionist system to be compliant adults with instant, unquestioning obedience response.
You, the parent are to use corporal punishment to absolve the guilt of sin for your child who is not old enough to understand the substitutionary atonement of the cross.
That is heresy.
The Pearls and others like them throughout extreme fundamentalist evangelicalism do not make a distinction between training and obedience.
The Pearls books are carefully marketed to:
1) New, frustrated, uncertain, isolated, busy, tired parents who are Pearl assured that parental anger will dissipate when their techniques are used.
2) They appeal to parents concerned for their reputation; their techniques will produce happy, immediately obedient children who will save the parent from public embarrassment. It works well in isolated movements (FLDS, JW, KJV etc)
3) They promise perfect domestic peace, a flawless Leave it to Beaver, Brady bunch Christian home. That is mystical consumerist bunk.
One person I read going through the Proverbs verses you supplied compares the Pearls techniques to domestic idolatry, where children are a spiritual battlefield, not a gift from God, although adherents use cognitive dissonance to believe and survive the latter.
The Pearls personally practise separatism; the state and others outside their belief group are enemies motivated by Satan, evil, who will steal your kids.
Proverbs 20:30 refers to the wounds of Christ
Proverbs 13:24 In the Pearls belief systems physical chastising (what Christ endured) must be done to children for them to achieve salvation which comes through punishment and pain. If you love your child you’ll hit them, teach them submission to your control and authority. The sooner you start, the better.
The Pearls promotion of violence mirrors their belief an angry God did this to his son. Parents beat your children so they don’t have to face God’s anger.
Proverbs 22:15 – same as above.
Doctors see dead children, severely and permanently injured children of parents who take the Pearls of this world literally.
In the US they see far too many children injured by fundamentalist parents using religious justification.
They rarely see abused Jewish children whose parents have used Old Testament law as justification for corporal punishment.
You use Proverbs to explain your literalism.
That is expected when someone is taught or imbraces innerrancy.
Proverbs 23: 34-35
I think it is interesting Proverbs is a book that begins to move away from ancient, patriarchal and tribal social norms.
God begins to reveal His character in the Old Testament, His traits; preparing the way for the greatest act of love in history. He unfolds knowledge in the Old Testament and begins to share who He is, and that we have been created in His image and likeness.
Proverbs moves away from familial relationships as property/currency.
You ask:
“God also says: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies. Psa. 58:3b
What does God really mean here?”
Same as He means elsewhere in scripture. ie: Isaiah 53:6, Jude 1:3, etc.
To go astray means to wander: to ‘cast off their knowledge of God to go their own course.’
David wrote Psalm 58 and refers to God as Elohim.
This is a sermon psalm (maschil) public instruction around injustice (David fleeing Saul). He speaks of judgment (not judicial judgement) vengeance, the man (adult) trapped in the rebellion of his own making. David is also lamenting and instructing on the unjustness in rebellious men, the corrupt, crushing judges and rulers, the corruption of justice by them against his people.
He teaches some day justice will come and rejoices in God’s ability to exact vengeance, for it is His to mete out.
Taken from Exploring Psalms: An Expository Commentary By John Phillips
Don’t take my word, please. Study for yourself, test, check, reference, use commentaries, concordances, do your own studying.
I don’t know when you reached your age of recognition, your age of accountability.
That is when you began to put away childhood (your situation is tragic and complex as your key developmental years were cruelly twisted and stolen from you) and began to see yourself as an individual in the human family, as a moral and spiritual being responsible for and capable of choice.
Some KJV onlyism sees that verse in Psalm 58 as meaning we are the seed of Satan.
Some KJV onlys deny the Trinity.
Some KJV onlys would say I am not saved, I am a heretic for accepting other translations of scripture.
Textual criticism is not acceptable, hence inerrancy, literalism and authoritarianism rules.
2 Tim 3:16 is used as justification of KJV onlyism.
I suggest http://www.sacc-ct.org.za/corppun.html. Go to the root of of these words you used above: chastisement, correction, discipline, foolishness.
I also recommend Flogging for God which looks at the pedagogy of religious violence toward our children.
All children do not need to be hit. How incredibly ungodly. Every child is unique.
I have nieces and nephews who would not benefit from a hand, a rod, or corporal punishment. I have had to address bad and harmful behavior and sinful attitude and I can assure you, getting physical with the kids was not necessary at any stage of their development.
You did not deserve to be hurt and abused. How different it would have been if you had grown up with people who knew that, who honoured you as God does. Your abuse was not your fault.
I have seen parents come into this thread who have repudiated The Pearls heresy.
I suspect to do so would have been very difficult and initially quite fearful, and no doubt costly for them emotionally, socially and spiritually.
You are right Bene, we don’t agree.
Yes, I did mention that I was abused. I saw it first hand and know it’s ugly head.
I know I didn’t deserve it, warrant it, ask for it or any of that other stuff.
However, long ago in my heart of hearts I understood that we are all acountable before one! God and God alone.
I forgave my father, easy as that. His sin was not mine to bear nor to allow to tear me down.
I forgave because I know what it is like to be totaly forgiven!
He did the best he knew, I’de like to think anyway. But that only serve to mold part of the person I have become.
My time here is up, I am one of those KJB only kinda persons. It took much prayer and meditation to come here and I will not be convinced otherwise.
No, I do not deny God the father, the Son or Holy Spirit.
1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
God uses whatever means needed to save the lost.
1 Cor 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
“2 Tim 3:16 is used as justification of KJV onlyism.”
My basis for standing on the KJB is not out of this verse but out of faith for the preservation of the infalible word of God, which he promised to keep for us till he come.
Ps 12:6 The words of the LORD [are] pure words: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
I have read several others and found way too much error and deviance from what God intended. Who is man that he should think himself wiser to correct or better translate the word of God?
The so called niv even leaves out entire verse …why? atrocious!
As for commentaries? No thanks, God speaks plain english to all. Only the unsaved cannot understand.
1 Cor 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.
Forgiveness is the most beautiful thing; next to God’s love for us.
But I will not leave without saying this: I cannot nor will I answer for how others have “used/abused” what the Pearls have written. For my part it has produced happy, honoring and God fearing children. A healthy fear is a good thing,
Ps 19:9 The fear of the LORD [is] clean, enduring for ever:
Ps 33: 18 Behold, the eye of the LORD [is] upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;
Not once did I for a second believe that they were promoting half of what you are insinuating and I feel sorry for all the folks that can not see past that.
Thank you for your time, compassion and concern.
In Christ,
A
Oh, one last thought … the writers of the Bible where merely human pens.
Fair enough Little Wings, go under the mercy.
I have been reading some of the critiques of Michael and Debi Pearl, and I am concerned that their literature is being misunderstood. I have read some of it, and one piece of information that stands out to me that they emphasized is that if you cannot discipline your child calmly and without anger, then it is better not to discipline them at all. Abuse is a horrible and sad phenomenon, and it is the result of anger or frustration on the part of the abuser. While the Pearls advocate spanking, they are emphatic about doing it calmly and warn against child abuse.
In reading some of the above entries, it strikes me that none of these people are saying what IS the correct way to teach and train a child. As a public school teacher, I have witnessed first hand what has happened over the past 20 years as our society has decided that parents spanking their children is child abuse, and so has abstained from this practice. I think that most people will agree that we have serious behavior problems among our young people, and respect for authority is almost nonexistent.
While there are many ways to teach and train children, corporal punishment has its place among them. When done correctly, it is quick and brings a direct association between the wrongdoing and pain, thereby causing the child to avoid this behavior in the future.
Corporal punishment does NOT include slapping kids across the face, pulling their hair, locking them in closets, burning them with cigarettes or other instruments, yelling, shaking, or yanking the child around. It is controlled, deliberate, and accompanied by words of instruction and encouragement.
It is not fair to compare personal abuse as a child with people who use spanking as a part of their childrearing. Should guns be outlawed because some people abuse their use? Should cars be abolished because some people break driving laws and end up hurting others?
Just my 2 cents worth.
When my twins were about 10 months old and very demanding a neighbor showed up unexpected and bought me To train up a child, and The Joy of parenting. When you are new parents you have to decide how you will react to your children. My husband and I are Christians and were raised by Christians. We always believed that spanking was a necessary and the fastest and best approached to behavior modification. Looking back on our childhood we could both see that when we did recieve these corrections it was good for our training. The only issue we were dealing with was the anger we were feeling about our children misbehaving and being outwardly rebellious and defiant. Also we could see other parents yelling at their little ones and could not see anything positive or Christlike about yelling. We took time to read the books and consider the scripture. We did not agree with homeschooling for our family and felt that some of the beliefs were a little radical for us. But we could see that the behavior modification approach was a smart, biblical approach that actually works. It also gave us a measuring stick for how we would spank, who would spank, what we would say to our child when training, and would eliminate all anger and yelling that we hated to hear in any family interactions. We went to the local hardware store and bought paint sticks and put them above all the moldings in diaper bags and in all areas of the house and car. We left them with our parents and instructed them on this technique. You tell your child what to do only once, if they don’t comply they get a switch on the thigh, repeat the command. Never tell them to do something that you are not ready to enforce with a switch. Be sensible if child is tired put them to bed same with other basic needs being met. Keep them busy and when they have free time they will learn to be more content. You are the ultimate example. Early to bed, early to rise as well as other basic truths. They also address if you are keeping a child that you can’t spank or because of your past abuse should not spank how to use other behavior modificationa approaches taking away privaliges more chores etc.
These approaches saved our marriage, our sanity and have changed the way we respectfully interact in our family. I can not say enough good things about the basic truths this couple teaches in their books. Funny but our daughter that was born 3 years later has not had very many switches in her life. She has learned to modify her own behavior by the observation of her sisters good behavior. Now our little boy is 15 months and we hardly have any switches around. He is always looking for ways to help and to do the right things. Amazing how goodness and truth will spread in our family. We often go back to the books and reread the wisdom they impart. We highly recommend these books to anyone. As with all of Gods word in any translation if you don’t belong to him you just won’t get it.
This isn’t about just Christians who hit thier kids – we aren’t talking about learning adult self-respect and control and interdependency, we are talking about the Pearls, who have been abusive. They have issues and have made a living demanding others see them as authoritative.